Professor David Daokui Li is a prominent Chinese economist and a top advisor to Chinese senior leaders. Having served on the Monetary Policy Committee of China’s central bank, he is currently a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which functions in a capacity similar to that of Britain’s House of Lords.

In academia, Professor Li is the Mansfield Freeman Chair Professor of Economics and the Director of the Tsinghua University Center for China in the World Economy. He is also the founding Dean of Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University, a fellowship program with a master’s degree curriculum that seeks to bring future global leaders to Tsinghua with the goal of bridging the gap between China and the world. The launch of the program in 2013 elicited congratulatory letters from China President Xi Jinping and US President Obama.

Professor Li is an active writer and speaker on issues regarding the Chinese economy and global politics. He frequently participates in discussions with leading intellectuals and other prominent figures from around the world, such as debating with Henry Kissinger, Fareed Zakaria and Niall Ferguson on the topic of whether the 21st century will belong to China.

He also makes frequent appearances on television outlets such as CNBC and Bloomberg, and his writings and quotes can be found in prominent publications such as the New York Times, Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. In 2006, he was named by Wall Street Wire as one of the ten most influential economists in China.

Our Comment

"One of the most authoritative voices on China’s economic development, David speaks on key issues such as: what is China’s role in the global economy after the financial crisis? Will the RMB replace the US Dollar as the global reserve currency? What lessons can the US learn from China? What are the global implications of China’s demand for resources?"